SQUAWK BOX, FRIDAY 4TH JUNE, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden signs an executive order banning investment in 59 blacklisted Chinese tech and defence companies. Stateside, markets slide weighed down by tech stocks, with all eyes on today’s non-farm payroll report. We hear exclusively from Russian oil minister Alexander Novak who says Moscow could back out of dollar-denominated oil contracts should Washington persist in its sanctions. Meanwhile, UK travel is back in turmoil after the British government takes Portugal off its Covid travel green list while adding seven nations to its red list. The aviation and tourism sectors nosedive on the unexpected move. And a potential blockbuster deal looks to be in the works with billionaire Bill Ackman in talks to take a 10 per cent acquisition of Universal Music Group through his blank-cheque company. The valuation is estimated at $35bn-$40bn ahead of its listing on the Euronext Amsterdam later this year.